Bibliography
Selected books, articles, and scholarly studies on Nikolai Medtner and his music.
This bibliography brings together essential books, articles, and resources for the study of Medtner's life, music and philosophy.
Start Here
New to Medtner scholarship? Begin with Barrie Martyn's Nicolas Medtner: His Life and Music, then explore Medtner's own The Muse and the Fashion. For more specialized research, see Flamm's Nikolai Medtner: Music, Aesthetics, and Contexts.
Essential Books
Nicolas Medtner:
His Life and Music.
Barrie Martyn
1995
The principal English-language biography of Medtner, drawing on correspondence, writings, and reminiscences.
Der russische Komponist Nikolaj Metner: Studien und Materialien.
Christoph Flamm
1995
The most comprehensive scholarly resource on Medtner, including a catalogue of works, discography, and bibliography.
Nikolai Medtner: Music, Aesthetics, and Contexts.
Wendelin Bitzan & Christoph Flamm
2021
A major English-language collection of essays examining Medtner's music, aesthetics, biography, and context.
The Muse and the Fashion: Being a Defence of the Foundations of the Art of Music.
Nikolai Medtner, English transl. by Alfred J. Swan
1951
Medtner's own statement of his artistic philosophy. This book is essential for understanding his creative ideals.
Performance & Analytical Studies
The Sonata as an Ageless Principle: Nikolai Medtner's Early Piano Sonatas
​
Wendelin Bitzan
Articles & Historical Sources
Ernest Newman
"Medtner"
The Musical Times, January 1915.​​​
PhD Dissertation, University for Music, and Performing Arts Vienna, 2018/2019
Leonid Sabeneev
"Nikolai Medtner"
The Musical Times, March 1928
New Light on Nikolai Medtner as Pianist and Teacher
​
Alexander Karpeyev
Sidney Miller
"Medtner's Piano Music: An Appreciative Study"
The Musical Times, October–November 1941.​
DMA Dissertation, City University London, 2014
Performance Practice Issues in Russian Piano Music
​
Gregory Michael Smith
Malcolm Boyd
"The Songs of Nicolas Medtner"
Music & Letters, January 1965.
Newcastle, Australia, 2003 (Chapters 3-4 focus on Medtner)
Malcolm Boyd
"Metner and the Muse."
The Musical Times, January 1980.